Hidden Tales, The Diary of Agatha

THE STORYTELLERS

As usual, they woke up at sunrise. Mrs. Clerence prepared breakfast. For this, she boiled the milk she had collected before waking up Ashley. This was actually one of the girl's tasks, one of her favorites, in fact, because she loved talking to Margo, her cow. Even so, sometimes she didn't wake up on time. However, her lady forgave her and didn't call her attention to it, since the girl was very responsible and didn't let it happen often.

Sitting at the table, Ashley got lost in her thoughts, remembering what had happened the night before. A voice calling her, the stairs by the fireplace leading to the basement, and the objects in the chest. She was used to the gentle whispers through the forests; however, none of them were like the one from a few hours ago.

When Mrs. Clerence went to call the girl for breakfast, she noticed the strange book next to her but didn't mind. She knew the girl's passion for reading and was familiar with those objects. Fortunately, she didn't see the fox cub sleeping under the colorful rag blanket. Who knows what her reaction would have been; after all, it wasn't common for that species to become so attached to humans so quickly or to be seen nearby.

"You look tired," remarked Mrs. Clerence, slicing a loaf of bread. Her voice was stern. "I thought I told you to go to sleep after dinner."

"I'm not tired, Mrs. Clerence," Ashley looked at the older woman. She seemed disappointed, but after all, who wouldn't be in her place? She was the type of girl who preferred to be alone, enjoying her moments with nature and any forest friend who decided to show up, like the fox cub, for example. Still, you don't know the reason for this discontent, do you? "I just didn't want to have to go to the village to beg someone to be my friend."

"It's been almost three months since we moved to this village, and you're still alone."

"You know I'm not good at making friends..."

"Well, you'd better get better at it!" Clerence placed a piece of bread on a small wooden plate and handed it to the girl. Then she took a clay cup and poured the milk carefully so it wouldn't spill on the table. "I don't want to hear any more rumors about you like in the other villages where we lived. I'm fed up with it!" she said angrily, as expected.

"That wasn't my fault..." Ashley looked at the milk, imagining a waterfall of warm waters. "Oh, how nice it must be to bathe in a lake like that," she thought.

"Of course it was. You always act strange, as if you're not in this world, only looking out for yourself!" Clerence finished and placed the cup next to the girl's plate. "If you keep this up, you won't survive when I'm gone."

"...You're healthy. I shouldn't worry about that."

"Foolish child, do you think you live in an enchanted world?" It seemed that way, but Ashley knew very well where she lived, which made her long to truly live in that other place when she lay in bed at night. "Disasters can happen at any moment." As you must have noticed, the older woman didn't hesitate to use heavy words.

Ashley sighed before saying anything, looking at Clerence's face again. "I'm sorry."

The guardian walked over to the cauldron to fetch the rest of the milk that she had left boiling, then returned and carefully poured it into the jug. She looked at the slices of bread she had cut, the last remaining. She didn't want the girl to sense her worry, but still, she wondered what she would prepare for lunch and dinner later. She had tried planting potatoes in her yard, but the soil wasn't very good in that place, as if a bad energy hung over it. Deep down, she knew why that area felt so... dark, so to speak. After all, what could be expected of a reign with innocent blood on its hands? It was as if the land were cursed by the evils of those who ruled.

"Aren't you regretful about moving to this place? The kingdom is beautiful, with a lovely castle and a noble village that seems so charming and interesting... But the part we live in is plagued by misery..."